Elke and the finca

Elke has been staying in Fuerteventura since 2002. (Over a 4 hour flight from England, Holland, Belgium and Germany). She has always taken the dogs´ fate to heart and has tried to help as many as possible over the years. She nowadays has around 120 dogs in her care at any one time! In January 2008 Elke was successful in renting a neglected farmhouse in the small village of Las Pocetas. It has fantastic potential to accommodate the dogs with a large area of land surrounding it. Gradually, it is becoming a respectable dog sanctuary - an enormous task as well as the daily care of so many of dogs.

Practical and financial help is always needed to restore the neglected finca and to ensure the land is suitable for the dogs. Thanks to the support of many people, both financial and physical, much has been done since January 2008. Firstly, the much needed fencing around the property was erected. Then, as more donations for the fencing were made, we were able to divide the large area into separate smaller areas. For the safety of the dogs a “sluice”, which is a double gate, is now at the entrance and various finca doors have been made and fitted. The electricity supply and, the much needed, lighting has also been improved.

Large parts of the leaking roofs have also been fixed or replaced and most are now okay. As a result of this we can continue working on the floors to give the dogs a nice place to stay at night. The former stables are getting concrete floors and are already partly tiled which is far more hygienic and easier to keep clean. It also kills off the chicken fleas. Elke is very pleased with the huge improvement of the water supply. In the early days she had to walk round the fields with buckets of water because there was just one outside tap. Now the original, leaking water pipes have been replaced with new ones and a better system extends out to the other areas so each area has its’ own tap. Ideal! As you can see, over the last two years lots has been done to improve the dog shelter, however, there’s still a lot to do.

- Make more kennels and create shaded areas for protection against the hot sun.

- Maintenance work of fences and nightkennels, welding jobs

- Repair and plaster the broken walls.- Paint and restore the building.

- Making new flyers, replacing the flyers from 2008

Thanks to regular, generous donations we can gradually buy new materials to enable us to continue to repair and improve the dog shelter. As there is still a lot to do Elke and the Foundation Fuertedogs are always looking for people and companies who would like to sponsor the finca by donating money or materials. We are also, continually, looking for volunteers who want to help us with their time and energy so that we can improve the finca and give the dogs a better life in Fuerteventura! Can you help Elke and the dogs? If so, send an email to Dit e-mailadres wordt beveiligd tegen spambots. JavaScript dient ingeschakeld te zijn om het te bekijken..

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UPDATE 2013

Elkeisstaying since 2002 on Fuerteventura (about 4.5 hours flying from Netherlands, Belgium and Germany) and has always taken the fate of the Spanish dogs to heart and has tried to help as many as possible over the years. The mission through the years became "For a better dog life on Fuerteventura"

Since January 2008 she is moved to a broader rental location in the village of Las Pocetas. It is an old farmhouse, which stood empty for years but with great possibilities for the dogs. Step by step she is since then trying to realize a solid and respectable sanctuary for dogs. A huge job in addition to the regular daily care for such an large group of dogs.

On average there are nowadays around 120 dogs at the finca.

For refurbishing the for years long-neglected finca and making the piece of land suitable for the reception of so many dogs Elke is constantly depending on practical and financial help.

Fortunately there is thanks to the support of many people in the form of donations and helping hands. Since the beginning there has been already huge lot already achieved!

At first was it necessary to build the outside fence of the site. As more donations for the fencing arrived it became possible over the years within this fenced area to divide the land into multiple separate fields. Therefore it became possible to make several groups of dogs who matches, instead of one big group.

There was a corridor for the safety of the dogs at the entrance and there were quite a few doors for the various areas welded and posted.

There were improvements in the electricity supply and the necessary lighting. A large part of the roof was renewed or repaired. In 2011 the roofs of the dogs stays are fixed, so they can all sleep sheltered for the night.

The former stables have now a layer of concrete and are tiled so the stays are more hygienic and easier to keep clean (At the same time the problem was solved with the seated deep in the ground chicken flea infestation).

Elke is also very pleased with the vast improvement of the water supply on the finca. Formerly she ran with buckets of water for the dogs on the different fields because there is only 1 drain point for the water was. Meanwhile the original (leaking) water pipe from the road is replaced by a new and better hose and extended on the various dogs fields. Now each field has therefore its own drain point for the drinking water.

2012 in terms of job work was focused on the breakdown of more fields, passages and locks and shadow spots required because of the increase in the number of dogs on the finca.

Anno 2013 counts the Fuertedogs around 21 separate fenced fields/finca fields and there are total 22 day-/night stay or terraces, so that all present dogs have a safe spot and have the space to play in small groups, sleeping, eating and drinking. All dogs have overnight a covered place to sleep and are outside during the day, distributed over the various fields and terraces.

Every day starts with cleaning and refilling the buckets of water on all the various fields and terraces. Then filling the mangers with foods, picking the droppings and then begins the huge job cleaning of all accommodations. That all is a lot of work for one person alone, because there is more to do: buying food for the dogs, bringing dogs to the veterinarian or bringing dogs to the airport on time on their way to a new home. A tough one.

Fortunately, more and more people come over to work on the finca a week of more.

All in all, there are numerous projects over time to improve the dogs care. Despite all the improvements already achieved remains a primitive shelter and there is still a lot to do and wishes:

ABOVE ALLdaily help with cleaning all day/night stay, terraces and picking droppings on the fields

more dog houses and shadow stay/roofs to give the necessary shelter from the hot Canarian sunshine

improve weaknesses in the fence so that this is 'escape proof ' for all dogs

on a regular base cleaning alle the fields to eliminate the chicken fleas

repair and maintenance services of night stay, fencing and doors- voluntary welders are very welcome!

repair and plastering of crumbled walls

paints and refurbishing of the old, neglected building etc..

Making new flyers, replacing the flyers from 2008

Thanks to regular generous donations from a number of people could/can, fortunately, what job each time material be purchased for further refurbishing and improving the dogs care.

There is much to do, Elke/Stichting Fuertedogs is still looking for people and companies who want to sponsor as well as volunteers who want to help with the job work on the finca.

For 2013 hopes Elke especially on more structural aid on the spot, after 5 years, day and night busy for the doggies there, she is for a large percentage of the year on her own. Elke's project has become overwhelming, so that actually at least 3 people are needed for all the jobs on the finca. It is not to be expected that any help is given by the local residents and unfortunately the financial resources of the Fuertedogs Foundation are limited.

A worrying situation and all serious help, especially so for any length of time, is therefore very welcome!!